TWELVE Okehampton Running Club (ORC) members travelled to London with friends and family to complete this year's Virgin London Marathon.

After months of intensive training and dedication the club runners were excited and nervous in anticipation of the race which lay ahead. They joined more than 35,000 runners who started the race in Greenwich Park following streets packed with spectators and music enjoying a carnival-like atmosphere. Despite a slightly overcast start the clouds soon cleared leaving no runner able to escape the heat of the sun on what proved to be a hot 26.2miles.

Many runners suffered from the heat, perhaps not achieving the race times they were hoping for and forcing many to take regular drinks breaks. However, all 12 ORC members managed to cross the finish line on The Mall to receive their London Marathon medals.

'Good for Age' runners included Roger Voaden, Gavin Punchard, Bryan Friend and Kirstin Phippard. These runners qualified for entry into the marathon after proving they had completed the distance in 'Good for Age' times previously. Roger finished in 02.57.00, Gavin in 02.57.13, Bryan 03.13.48 and Kirstin in 03.42.54, allowing them all automatic places in next year's race.

Since ORC now has over 70 members the club receives two London Marathon places. This year Lisa Veale and Paul Grainge were the lucky winners of the club's own mini-ballot. For both runners it was their first marathon, finishing in excellent times of 4.09.36 for Lisa and 3.53.57 Paul.

The six club members running for various charities were Dave Mugliston 3.47.45, Leanne Rice 4.11.54, Karen Vallance 4.29.51, Cathy Carey 4.38.39, Jo Camies 4.35.29 and Ali Holliday in 5.24.04.

All the runners would like to thank their friends and family for all their support during the long and often relentless training and on race day itself. They also thank the coaches at ORC for providing the training plans needed to prepare them for the distance and all the encouragement from both the coaches and other club members during the training sessions.

n SEVEN ORCs took part in the Follett Stock Great West Half Marathon and the RAF Careers 5K run in Exeter.

In the 5K race Roger Voaden, just two weeks after taking part in the London Marathon, ran his usual strong race completing in 17 minutes 57 seconds taking third place overall. Marilyn Cooper, following up her F55 win at the Bampton to Tiverton race earlier in the week, was the third lady to finish in 24.06. Rachel Baker ran an excellent race and achieved a personal best in 28.29.

These three were then able to cheer on their fellow club mates who by then had started the half marathon from Exeter Arena as their race took in the 5K route through the city centre. Gavin Punchard, another London marathoner and raising money for the Devon Air Ambulance, was first for ORC in 1.26.18, followed by Jean-Paul Quertier 1.36.31, Darren Duffy 1.44.13 and Clare Poulter 1.58.58.